chickintheham

Last night I went to see Andrew Peterson in concert. He's my friend. I have a sticker that says so. He just doesn't know my name. hehe. Anyway, I went to his FREE concert where he sang every song from his new CD. I love his songs. And I loved what I heard from his CD.... which I preordered weeks ago and won't actually get until next week sometime (fingers crossed). Until then, I can listen to it online. You can too. The second part of the concert was made up of requests. He started the segment with "Nothing To Say" which had I been the type of girl to shout requests out is exactly what I would have requested. After that, someone requested the "Queen of Iowa" which you know is a sad song. I'd heard Andrew speak a little about the song before but last night he gave quite an introduction and he had me in tears by the time he started singing. By the end of it I think I told God that I was going to need him to close with "After the Last Tear Falls," because I was an emotional wreck and I just love that song. Well, I don't know if it was Divine intervention or what but that is the song Andrew closed with.... and I flat out bawled my eyes out. How embarrassing. Thank goodness I was among friends. But, Andrew may want his sticker back. Although... he cried too... but then it was his song. Oh well. I never said I was cool.

What I took away from the concert... other than Andrew's music and stories, was a quote Andrew paraphrased from his memory. I asked him about it after the show and he said he wasn't sure it wasn't written anywhere but he once heard Mike Yaconelli say it at a conference. It goes something like this... Spirituality is nothing more than paying attention to what's around you. Now, that's me paraphrasing Andrew's paraphrasing. But, it was something like that. Anyway, I liked it because I always think of Spirituality along Rich's terms... which seemed to be about obedience. You know, "A spiritual thing is making your bed. A spiritual thing is taking cookies to your neighbor that is shut in or raking their front lawn because they are too old to do it. That is spirituality." which I always connect with "Closeness to God is not about feelings. Closeness to God is about obedience. It's just as simple as that." I don't know that I should connect them but I do. I was glad to get another perspective.

I didn't fully intend to really write about this. But, oh well. That's where I ended up. Maybe tomorrow I'll tell you what Jason Bateman and Craig Kilborn have to do with my closets. That was what I originally had planned to write about. oh well. Go read some Rich or listen to Andrew.

P.S. For Sweetie.... The song "Rocket" was totally written for our Astronaut. Do you remember Astronaunt Patrick Forrester?

Labels: Andrew Peterson, Rich Mullins

callooh callay!!! I think I've figured out how to keep up with my other blog friends using blogspot. I'm a little slow on figuring such things out. But, having easier access to my friends lives will make me happier because don't you all want me to know exactly what you are up too. Of course you do. We've got no secrets right? I mean just the other day I told you I needed to shave my legs. Would I have told you that if we weren't friends. No way! Of course, I also wouldn't have told you that if we were face to face. I'm all open and honest and raging as long as I don't have to look you in the eye. But, I know none of the rest of you are like that. You're better than me. It's true. I accept it and love you for it.

So Friday night I went to see this comedian guy name Jim Gaffigan. I had no idea who he was before I went to see him. Once again, Purple hooked me up with sweet entertainment for an evening. It's always good to have someone want to hang with you on a Friday night. I ushered for the show. That is a good deal. Work a little and then see a free show. Woohoo. I think his tickets were like $40 or something. There's no way I would have shelled out money like that for an unknown. But, he was funny and clean... I'd recommend him. If, you know, you've got $40 burning a hole in your pocket. I rarely have that happening myself. But, we are not all the same.

Then when I got home, I put on Rich's Lufkin Tx concert and watched it in bed. I thought I'd fall asleep to it. But, I never went to sleep. As luck would have it... I was awake until clear past 5am. Not good. Maybe Rich isn't the sort of thing you can listen to right before going to bed. He always gets me to thinking and apparently I can't think and sleep at the same time anymore. Well, I'm not sure I ever could. But, I used to be able to sleep whether I was attempting to think or not. I hadn't watched that video in a long time. It was interesting to see those guys again and think how they've all got different stuff going on and they're all married and that stuff... except for Rich. Rich is a "Grecian urn" he'll always be as he was in that video because, of course, he was killed soon after it was made... he's now living it up somewhere else. But, it's good to have his recordings, writings, and video's left here on earth to kick me in the butt when I needed and I needed it Friday night. I needed his speech on how to be close to God. Cause, I for sure haven't been being very obedient lately.

There's more that rises in the morning
Than the sun
And more that shines in the night
Than just the moon It's more than just this fire here
That keeps me warm In a shelter that is larger
Than this room
And there's a loyalty that's deeper
Than mere sentiments
And a music higher than the songs
That I can sing
The stuff of Earth competes
For the allegiance
I owe only to the giver
Of all good things


So if I stand let me stand on the promise
That you will pull me through
And if I can't, let me fall on the grace
That first brought me to You
And if I sing let me sing for the joy
That has born in me these songs
And if I weep let it be as a man
Who is longing for his home

There's more that dances on the prairies
Than the wind More that pulses in the ocean
Than the tide
There's a love that is fiercer
Than the love between friends
More gentle than a mother's
When her baby's at her side
And there's a loyalty that's deeper
Than mere sentiments
And a music higher than the songs
That I can sing
The stuff of Earth competes
For the allegence
I owe only to the Giver Of all good things

So if I stand let me stand on the promise
That you will pull me through
And if I can't, let me fall on the grace
That first brought me to You
And if I sing let me sing for the joy
That has born in me these songs
And if I weep let it be as a man
Who is longing for his home

Labels: Jim Gaffigan, Rich Mullins

“God did not give Joseph any special information about how to get from being the son of a nomad in Palestine to being Pharaoh’s right hand man in Egypt. What He did give Joseph was eleven jealous brothers, the attention of a very loose and vengeful woman, the ability to do the service of interpreting dreams and managing other people's affairs, and the grace to do that faithfully wherever he was.” – Rich Mullins

My secret parking place at work has been repaved and relined and thus has become a prime parking location for the students. What does this mean? When I come in late – I’ve got no where to park. The answer to this problem is to get to work earlier. As you know, I’ve been praying for a miracle in that area for a while now. I have to wonder is this repaving all a part of God’s answer to me. I think God does what he can for me but I’m pretty stubborn. Here’s the bad part… I got to work today about 30 mins earlier than I customarily did last semester. So, I was doing a little better. When I saw that all my parking places were full, including my secret location that quote from Rich came to mind making me wonder if God was, in fact, helping me out. But, then I parked in the new parking deck…. Which, for a staff person is not a great location. (For students it should be fine - but students here are a little spoiled – that’s my opinion – I went to one of the largest land grant schools in the country –I walked a lot) Anyway, as I was pondering the whole quote thing, I also started thinking that parking in the deck really wasn’t so bad… I mean it’s about a 10 minute walk to my office – down a hill, which means it’s a 10 min. walk up hill at the end of the day. Still, I was thinking it was a good source of exercise, even if it’s just a bit. Because you know, I’m still somewhat young. I ought to be able to walk uphill for 10 mins, Right? Sure. And if I don’t do it… how long would it take for me not to be able to do it…. See how I can justify my right to arrive late and not get a good parking place. I am sooo good at being lazy.

As I was taking my 10 min walk down to my office, I was thinking that I’ve put back on a little weight these past couple of weeks. I don’t know why I lost the little bit of weight I lost this summer unless it really was due to stopping the sodas. Cause, I’m telling you, I did not say no to anything sweet these past few months. And part of me was wondering if my weight loss was all in my head or really just a tan. It’s not like I stepped on a scale or anything. But, I did buy some pants, shorts, and skirts that were 2 sizes smaller than what I would have bought last summer. Surely that can’t be in my head. (Or can it?) Last night I went to put on some jeans. The only clean ones I had were just one size smaller than last summer. When I pulled them out of the closet I was sort of thinking “Oh Great, I’m going to have a baggy butt.” But, then I put them on and there was no room for a bag in my butt. I had to suck in my gut a little to button them. Fraggle Rock! Then this morning I pulled out a pair of pants to wear that I had sort of been avoiding this summer because they have been giving me a baggy butt recently. You know, you just don’t want a baggy butt no matter what size you are. There’s just nothing fashionable about a baggy butt. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll have to worry about the baggy butt today. I’ll have to look in the mirror when I get home. I wonder what I’ll see. Perhaps I’ll see the need to park in the parking deck…. Or will I see no need to worry about buying more pants because the baggy pants fit me now. I don’t like either of those options. I’m going to hope for a baggy butt.

Labels: Parking, Rich Mullins, Weight